Regulations/Standards on Parachutes

[Panama Jack]

Can anybody kindly point me in the direction of Transport Canada and/or FAA regulations and standards pertaining to emergency parachutes?

All I know is by FAA regulations, there is a regular repacking interval for emergency parachutes by a FAA Certificated Parachute Rigger. I don't know of anything that Transport Canada writes.

Besides the condition of a parachute, is there a finite specified life-span for an emergency chute?

[BibleMonkey]

If it's a planned jump, 623.36
I guess:

D) Parachute Equipment

(1) For the purpose of this section, an approved parachute means a parachute manufactured to the standards applicable to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Technical Standard Order (TSO) C23 series...

For an unplanned ( emergency ) jump, you can use an umbrella taped to a hockey stick.
Bauer or CCM are best here.

Actually, I have no idea- -interesting question about equipment requirement for emergency chutes.

If you plan on entering or leaving an aircraft in flight without a parachute, you have to let the government know ten days in advance.....

623.65(e) Entering or Leaving an Aircraft in Flight

(1) The following standards apply to the application for and the operation of aircraft pursuant to CAR 602.25(b).

(2) An application for a Special Flight Operations Certificate for the purpose of operating a powered aircraft while persons enter, or except for parachute descents, leave powered aircraft in flight shall be received by the appropriate Regional Transport Canada General Aviation Office, at least 10 working days prior to the date of the proposed operation

James Bond has to give ten days notice.

=======
It would be interesting to find out what the emergency chute requirements are....sounds like they reference the FAA spec....

[Panama Jack]

I guess it is intended to help prevent suicide attempts.

Do you know of any requirements in Canada for parachutes to be worn in aerobatic flight, and the definition of aerobatic flight. Again, my background in this area is stronger in the FAA FAR world.

[cgzro]

Parachutes are not required for aerobatics in Canada but almost everybody doing hard aerobatics does.

Emergency parachute re-packs are now on the same time intervals in the US and Canada (6 months intervals).

The difference in definition of aerobatics in Canada and the US is not really useful to a pilot. A better working definition to use is "did I scare or annoy anybody".

Some other pertinant differences:
Minimum altitudes for aerobatics- Canada its 2000 AGL and in the US its 1500 AGL. Airspace restrictions- In the US you can't do aerobatics in Controlled airpace including some minimum distance (forget exact numbers) from an airway. Canada you can do acro in controlled airspace as long as you are in contact with the controlling agency. Infact safest place in Canada to do acro is in a block of controlled airspace from 6-9thousand feet, you get conflict resolution etc. now if you can put your block right over an airport or within gliding distance you have a very safe practice environment.

[Panama Jack]

Thanks cgzro,

Your response is very helpful.

In the US, no aerobatics within 4nm of the centerline of an airway (in other words, on an airway-- since they are 8 miles wide)

As far as I know, FAR 91.307 specifies that a parachute, in order to be made available for emergency use, must have been inspected and packed within a certain preceding time period by a FAA certificated and appropriately rated Parachute Rigger. This inspection and repack cycle is currently 120 days for parachutes made entirely of synthetic materials.

FAR 91.307 further goes on to state that an "approved parachute" is required by all occupants of the aircraft whenever the expected pitch and bank angles of an airplane will exceed 30 and 60 degrees respectively, except in the case of certain flight tests or spin training and other maneuvers given by certain instructors. This means some very gentle maneuvers such as wing-overs or spins for fun & joy require the occupants to wear parachutes.

In Canada, what is a "typical" cost of having a parachute repacked by a rigger? From what I've been told, Parachute Riggers in Canada are not certified by Transport Canada but rather by the Canadian Sport Parachuting Association.

[fougapilot]

Emergency parachute re-packs are now on the same time intervals in the US and Canada (6 months intervals).

Peter,

Not 100% true. To the best of my knowledge, the only place you will find an actual repack requirement in the CARs is under the Parachuting section of Car 623 (special flight ops). For any other planned parachuting activities, the Canadian Sport Parachuting Association (CSPA) internal rules apply.

There is a big difference between CAR and FAR on this subject. The FARs stipulates you must wear a parachute to conduct acro under certain conditions and that this parachute must have been repacked in the last 180days (was 120, just went to 180). In Canada, your parachute rigger will have you believe that the requirement is the same. However, this requirement is NOT listed in the CARs (other then for planned demo jumps in accordance with CAR 603). Now, this being said, the CSPA does require the reserve parachute to be repacked every 180 days and your rigger simply considers your emergency parachute as a SkyDiver's reserve parachute.

Back in the day when I worked with the Northern Lights we had the parachute of our L39 repacked once per year IAW our TC approved maintenance program. At first, TC wanted us to do it every 120 days. We asked them to provide us with a CARs reference to support this and they couldn't.

Again, to the best of my knowledge, there is no requirement to have your emergency parachute repacked at all. Personally, I do it every spring.

But you know, I could be wrong. My wife reminds me daily...

F

[Longtimer]

From the CARs but only specific to planned parachute use. The old regulations did address the issue but the details were not carried over to the new CARs or Standards. I guess due to lack of use / need. However, you could always query the manufacturor of your chute, most if not all include a manual with the chute that covers the repacking (how and when).

Parachute Equipment

(1) For the purpose of this section, an approved parachute means a parachute manufactured to the standards applicable to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Technical Standard Order (TSO) C23 series.

(2) Only parachute equipment that meets the following standards shall be used by parachutists conducting a parachute descent over or into a built-up area or over or into an open-air assembly of persons:

(a) Each parachutist shall wear a single harness dual parachute pack, having at least one main parachute and one approved reserve parachute.

(b) Both the main and reserve parachutes shall be "Ram-Air" type canopies.

(c) The main canopy used by a parachutist shall be meet the performance characteristics and wing loading of the parachute on which he or she qualified for their CSPA Exhibition Jump Rating or USPA Pro Rating.

(E) Parachute Packing Requirements

(1) For the purpose of this section a certificated parachute rigger means a person who holds a valid certificate issued by:

(a) The Canadian Sport Parachuting Association; or

(b) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

(2) Parachutes used to conduct a parachute descent over or into a built-up area or an open-air assembly of persons shall be packed as follows:

(a) The main parachute canopy shall be packed by the person making the parachute descent, or a certificated parachute rigger, within 120 days prior to the date of the parachute descent; and

(b) The reserve parachute canopy shall be packed by a certificated and appropriately rated parachute rigger within 120 days of the parachute descent.

[Chuck Ellsworth]

I have a seat pack type parachute that came with my Cri Cri.

It was bought in the late eighties and has never been opened, it has been in my clothes closet for years.

Is there a life time on these things?

[Longtimer]

There is no hard and fast FAA rule as to the service life, in years, for your parachute. The FAA rules basically say that every 120 days your parachute is no longer airworthy and must be recertified. As an FAA certified master rigger I feel you should not have your chute packed after 20 years of age. As a member of the Parachute Industry Association (PIA) I've heard talk among several riggers and manufacturers of parachutes and they agree that this should not exceed 20 years, regardless of the condition of the parachute. Throughout the industry, particularly because of the threat of lawsuits, everyone has the tendency to lean towards the conservative side.

However, twenty years was not just pulled out of a hat by the manufacturers to sell you more parachutes (the military uses only 10 years for their service life) and many foreign countries use only 15 years. When more accurate fabric pull test equipment became available and better means of doing excelerated testing of nylon for UV exposure it was quite evident that parachutes in excess of 20 years of age more frequently failed the non-destructive 40lb. tensile tests and UV testing. This doesn't mean a 10 year old or a newer parachute is always ok. A lot of factors enter into the picture, such as, where it was stored and its service history. The established guidelines have been implemented to protect you.

This 20 year service life is based on ideal conditions. The rigger has no idea where your "good deal" has been. Has it had a tough life? Has it been left out in the sun (UV damage) or exposed to extreme heat and humidity? Who knows and who can help you? A qualified rigger can inspect your parachute and the cost is usually free. I do not charge people for this service, because after inspecting their chutes quite often they will become a customer. The entire inspection takes only a few minutes and, in my opinion, should be done as a public service.

http://www.pia.com/silver/articlesarchive/beforbuy.htm

[Carrier]

Quote” “....the Canadian Sport Parachuting Association (CSPA) internal rules apply.”

This only applies to members of the CSPA, which is not the governing or law making body for the use of parachutes in Canada. It is just a private sports association like the local tennis club. Membership in it is voluntary and there are skydiving clubs and individuals in Canada who do not belong to it.

There are other similar associations in Canada both nationally and provincially, the main one being C.A.P.S., the Canadian Associates of Professional Skydivers. Transport Canada has published proposed new regulations for skydiving in Canada. The proposed regulations recognise the procedures and standards of the Canadian Associates of  Professional Skydivers. www.caps-skydiving.com

Glider pilots, particularly those involved in competitions, often have emergency parachutes. They usually do not belong to one of the skydiving associations or clubs but normally they do bring their parachutes in to a skydiving club at intervals to be repacked.

[Chuck Ellsworth]

So my chute is no longer serviceable even though it has been in a warm dry environment and never opened since new?

In other words it has no value now?

[Panama Jack]

Thanks for that article Longtimer. I was reading that some other manufacturers consider their parachutes to have a lifespan of 15 years.

It has saved me from making an expensive mistake.

[Longtimer]

So my chute is no longer serviceable even though it has been in a warm dry environment and never opened since new?

In other words it has no value now?

Makes a great conservation piece hung above your fireplace.

I guess you could always get it tested, would be a shame to be missed by a falling aircraft only to be flattened by a free falling pilot.

[AlXpat]

So my chute is no longer serviceable even though it has been in a warm dry environment and never opened since new?

In other words it has no value now?

It certainly still has some value, as far as emergencies goes. I personally have never found any trace of legal requirements for Emergency Chutes in Canada; but please advise if you find any!

This is totally different for Sport Parachutes (read : skydiving), which CSPA (as well as CAPS, and legally there could be others in Canada) regulates. If you practise skydiving as a sport, Canadian regulations stipulates you have to be member of an association (anyways, no DropZone would allow you to jump without membership). This could be USPA or any other association worlwide, but you have to be in one of them. But since you're asking about pilot's emergency parachute, nothing of this applies.

The best for you would be to have a CSPA (or wathever approved association) master-rigger (reserve parachute packer) inspect your gear. It might well still be airworthy after 20 years, though you MUST plan on reduced lift performance of the canopy, resulting in less flare and control. From there, it's your own choice as to consider your chute still worthy of practising risky activities with.

Remember though, the best way to preserve the life/quality of a chute, is to keep it in a dry and warm place, openend and suspended. If kept in the container, it has to be opened, vented, once in a while (more often the better), and repacked.

Lots of variables will affect the quality of an old chute, depending mainly on the material (zero porosity or F-111 material).
Sun will damage it, as well as any chemicals, saltwater. Exposure to your own skin might alter the performance of your canopy, too.

All in all, this is a question that you should refer to your local skydiving zone master-rigger, or to the reserve chute's manufacturer.

PM is you need more infos.

[Hedley]

If kept in the container, it has to be opened, vented, once in a while (more often the better), and repacked

My parachute rigger tells me that the more often you repack
a chute, the faster you wear it out. Especially with the new
180 day rule in the USA, we just repack our emergency chutes
once in the spring, for the summer airshow season.

Again, there is ABSOLUTELY NO LEGAL REQUIREMENT to
wear an emergency parachute during aerobatics in Canada,
nor are there any legal requirements as to the maintenance
of this legally unnecessary piece of equipment.

Food for thought: there are probably less than 20 pilots
in all of Canada that perform aerobatics on any regular
basis (eg contest, airshow). A truly miniscule community.

[Chuck Ellsworth]

Thanks for all the info.

[AlXpat]

If kept in the container, it has to be opened, vented, once in a while (more often the better), and repacked

My parachute rigger tells me that the more often you repack
a chute, the faster you wear it out. Especially with the new
180 day rule in the USA, we just repack our emergency chutes
once in the spring, for the summer airshow season.


I'd say he's right: repacking more often than so many times a year, would wear it out.
But don't let it packed solid in the container, sit in a closet, for eight years, if you get my point!

[cgzro]

Concerning the cost. I typically pay $60 to have mine repacked. Probably the least expensive thing related to aerobatics that I do in any given year. Money well spent since I've actually found myself orbiting an airport seriously thinking about jumping and know many aerobatic pilots that have had various control/and or structural problems that could have required a jump.

Concerning the re-pack requirements in Canada. I stand corrected Dan. I never checked the actual CARS for the interval and was going by what my rigger stated. Come to think of it there is some kind of hermetically sealed chute that the VWOC folks pilots use that has a 10 year re-pack or something ridiculous like that... don't know the details but recall having a conversation with the VWOC cheif pilot about chutes they use in the P-51 etc.

Speaking of chutes mine is due for a re-pack ...

[bodyflyer]

I generally agree with the comments here.

The price for a repack for a skydiver is around $60 now. Prices for pilot rigs may well be higher because the rigs are somewhat exotic for riggers and more of a bother to pack, as are the round canopies normally used. Riggers certified in the last decade or so often aren't familiar with rounds, because skydivers don't use them. (The last time anyone bought a new skydiving rig with a round reserve was pretty much the late 1980s.) So a pilot rig repack can take more effort and time! Another reason for a higher price can be that a repack is something for someone with a big bucks airplane who shows up once a year... not a regular jumper who is out at the DZ spending their cash there all the time anyway.

Many modern riggers will not be even have bothered to get certified to pack rounds. On the other hand there will be some riggers who pack all the local glider pilots' rigs etc, and so be OK with keeping prices down.

(Of course one could argue that since there are no Canadian standards for pilot rigs, it doesn't matter who packs them.)

Riggers opinions on lifespans vary. Some prefer not to pack something over 20 years old, or 25 years old, or are flexible. I've packed a 40 year old rig. I sure pull tested it a bunch, but couldn't get the thing to rip, and could find no other reason to ground it... so I packed it, even if I did provide the owner with some suggestions on why he might want to upgrade.

The biggest concern with old round parachutes is the acid mesh issue, with everything produced before '89 a little suspect, if they have mesh vents (which almost all do since the 70s or so). Some canopies were grounded (and one hopes are all out of circulation now); the rest from that era need pH testing in addition to the usual tensile test for older parachutes.

Riggers are so used to working within the confines of CSPA or FAA rules, that they won't often realize this whole business about there not being rules on pilot rigs. Some Canadian riggers are FAA certified. Because those riggers must technically (per the FAA) follow all manufacturers' recommendations, they tend to be more conservative. As a CSPA rigger I'm not actually sure what the CSPA would have to say about how we are supposed to apply our work to chutes that aren't regulated.

Packing chutes wears them out?
I wouldn't worry about it, and I think it applies less to round parachutes than for the small ram air canopies many skydivers use as reserves. Folding and unfolding tends to open up the weave ever so slightly, increasing the porosity. That matters for a ram air reserve canopy that is supposed to be at a 0-3 cfm porosity rating using "F-111" style material, but some round canopies are made from higher porosity material anyway, e.g. any "LoPo" starts at 30-50 cfm, so a few more points wont matter. Some porosity either through fabric or vents is needed to improve stability.

Riggers and skydivers acknowledge that 180 day repacks or even 1 year repacks are sufficient for having a reliable reserve ... IF the rig has been properly cared for. The problem is that some rigs sit in the sun a lot or get grit and sand in them, in which case a rigger would rather see them sooner than later.

If a Canadian is taking a pilot rig to the states (for an IAC aerobatic competition, or a glider competition), that gets messier. The FAA allows foreigners to wear or use whatever is legal in their own country... unless it is a US TSO'd rig... which is most of them. Then the US rules apply for the repack interval. Off hand I may be missing something here, but the safe thing if going to the US is just follow the US repack cycle.

I don't know what Canadian organizations require. Will the Soaring Association of Canada or Aerobatics Canada require a 180 day repack for their contests, no matter whether TC is silent on the issue?

Another whole matter is the choice of parachute for a pilot, since harness designs and pack shape and size vary a lot. The speed to which the parachute is rated is also an issue.

That's all I can think of at the moment!